The two sided ring drew a pretty good crowd, but it was a free show (with a small donation.) TV Azteca was one of the presenting sponsors, and I think I can see a video camera on some of the photos, but I don’t know that means it was taped or it’ll air.

Maximo tried to get Negro with a casita, but Negro fouled him and got his own move for the win.

Advance press is starting to run for AAA’s anime, just under 3 weeks away. In an interview with Notimex, Dorian Roldan (head of creative and new projects!) says 225 theaters will be showing the movie at the premiere, there’s talk about more movies in 2011, or maybe spinning the movie out into a television series. They’d also like to get this film in other countries – only Japan is mentioned. The success (or lack of success, if it goes that way) of AAA’s movie and video game clearly will be big stories in 2010.

One of the bigger stories of last year was CMLL’s Anniversary show, and LuchaLibreDeMexico has yesterday’s broadcast of the show up on YouTube – start with Part 1

Leading up to their title match in the Tokyo Dome, Averno & Ultimo Guerrero wore sparkly masks to the press conference, and everyone got find out how “otra nivel” translated to Japanese. They are so certainly not coming home with the belts, but it’ll still be a nice trip. FWIW, No Limit are still promising to bring the tag team belts back to Mexico, and that’s somehow a more probable outcome.

Another Notimex article looks back at big CMLL apuesta matches of ’09. Rosa Negra never did return after her match with Marcela; that’s one painful way to go into retirement.

Over on WagnerMania, ther’es a long version of the Silver King vs Chiapas Box Y Lucha Commission story. Silver King’s new argument is his mask looks different than the one he lost, therefore there should be no problems. This also appears to be less than true, but I appreciate the creativity. In another story I don’t quite believe, LA Park says he’s close to handing over his name to his son and going into semi-retirement, while his son settles all his feuds.

Cesar responds to last week’s USA Today article, saying the evidence presented actually leads to an opposite conclusion: WWE success in Mexico is good for lucha libre. The idea is WWE is creating more fans of wrestling, not stealing them away, and those are potential CMLL/AAA customers if/when they improve their creative. Meanwhile, WWE is giving CMLL and AAA a model to follow and steal from. Definitely worth reading for yourself. Cesar also reviews this week’s lineups.

I’ll be on Figure Four Daily this upcoming Wednesday, with Bryan and Dr. Lucha, talking about the year in lucha. I believe it’ll be a subscriber only show – what a fine time to sign up! (Or not, I guess I’ll live.)